Here is the 2014 playoff preview, based on a final four of Montreal-New York and Colorado-San Jose, with a finals of Montreal-Colorado and Stanley Cup champ of Colorado. I will group the first-round match-ups by the divisional brackets, making it easier to show the conference semi-finals.

My rankings, which will appear separately, are based on games played and expected points per game, PPP, +/- and PIMs by skaters and wins/shutouts by goalies. If your quarters, semis and finals differ, adjust rankings accordingly.

But first, here's how I think that the playoffs will play out.

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